Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League. He was selected 2nd overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Thrashers, becoming the highest-drafted European goaltender as well as the highest Finnish player ever in NHL history.

Kari Lehtonen was drafted second overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers after an outstanding 01/02 season in the Finnish SM-Liiga. Lehtonen was the backup goalie for Jokerit but captured the starting position and won the Urpo Ylönen trophy, given to the best goalie of the season, and the league's playoff MVP award, Jari Kurri trophy. Lehtonen stayed with Jokerit for one more season before crossing the sea.

The 2003–04 NHL season Lehtonen mostly spent with the Chicago Wolves, Thrashers' AHL affiliate, but he was called up for a number of occasions and played four games for the Thrashers, winning all four of them and posting one shutout. After posting a .953 save percentage and 1.25 GAA, Lehtonen spent the majority of the year in the AHL.